Roadburn Festival is pleased to kick off the new year with a handful of new confirmations, plus the addition of a fifth stage. Tickets for the 20th edition of the festival are on sale now.

Minsk, Mount Salem, and Worm Ouroboros have been added to the line up at the 013 for Thursday, April 9th. Having previously performed at the 2009 edition of the festival, Minsk return to Roadburn, bringing an atmospheric, meditative ambience, offset by raging thrust. Look out for plenty of canyon-sized riffs, trippy sounding keyboards and enchanting vocals when Mount Salem conjurs a crushing windstorm to blow through Roadburn, whilst Worm Ouroboros will be spinning diaphanous webs of the most delicate chamber doom.

New Orleans heavyweights Goatwhore lead the charge, followed by Germany's Downfall of Gaia, noise-hardcore trio Cortez, and a dual-pronged sludge attack from both Fister and Moloch as the first bands announced for the intimate Cul de Sac venue.

As with the 2014 edition, Roadburn's fifth stage will be at Cul de Sac - a small music café located across from the 013 venue at 48 Heuvel, which is the street lined with bars and restaurants (also affectionately known as “Weirdo Canyon”). Four bands will perform at Cul de Sac on each day of the festival, Thursday - Sunday. Entry to these shows is sure to be in high demand, so attendees are advised to arrive early to secure access.

With regret, the festival's organizers have to announce that Lord Mantis will no longer be performing at Roadburn 2015. The band is unable to make it over to Europe due to personal reasons; as a result the performance at Roadburn and any shows around that will be cancelled. The vacant slot on the line up will be taken by Ohio sludge titans Fistula. More...

Skeletonwitch, Goatwhore and Mortals will be touring Europe this April and May. The bands will be playing shows in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain , Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Czech Republic.

In anticipation of this tour you can now watch the tour trailer for "Hell Has Arrived Over Europe" below.

Louisiana's Goatwhore is returning to Europe in April of 2015 as direct support to the Skeletonwitch European tour. Mortals will be opening up for both bands.

Goatwhore comments: "After being part of a really successful European and U.K. tour with Dying Fetus, Malevolence and Fallujah for the last 6 weeks, I am really stoked to be returning in April with our good friends in Skeletonwitch & Mortals to offer another dose of extreme metal to our European and UK fans.

"This will be a crushing experience to all that attend. We would like to thank everyone that attended the shows in November & December. See you in 2015!" More...

Louisiana's favorite blackened thrash goliaths in Goathwore have launched a brand new music video for the track "Nocturnal Conjuration Of The Accursed." Check it out below.

The song appears on the band's latest collection of NOLA-flavored audio devastation, entitled "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless."

Tomorrow night, Goatwhore will be performing at New Orleans' notorious House Of Shockwhere the band's "Baring Teeth for Revolt" video was filmed. For tickets and info, check out the band's Facebook event page.

Following the House Of Shock performance, Goatwhore will take on the next leg of Autumn live assaults set to commence October 23rd in St. Louis. Full details are available after the vidoe. More...

In the sixth episode of the "NOLA: Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou" documentary, Noisey joins Down guitarist Pepper Keenan.

Despite tragedy surrounding the band and its native city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Down rose again to new heights with a new LP and subsequent tour. Check out this latest episode below.

"Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou" is a seven-part series examining the people and the culture that helped foster bands like Down, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Acid Bath, Goatwhore and so many others.

In the fifth episode of "NOLA: Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou," Noisey.Vice.com joins Down guitarist Pepper Keenan at his bar in New Orleans.

The Big Easy native and Graveyard Rodeo member discusses leaving his hometown for Corrosion Of Conformity, which would become one of the most sought after bands of the '90s by mixing southern-influences with classic heavy metal.

"Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou" is a seven-part documentary examining the people and the culture that helped foster bands like Down, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Acid Bath, Goatwhore and so many others.

In an ongoing journey through The Big Easy, today Noisey delivers the fourth segment of the seven-part "NOLA: Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou" documentary.

The series explores the people and culture that helped spawn bands like Down, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Acid Bath, and so many others.

Tday Noisey talks with Goatwhore's Sammy Duet and Crowbar's Kirk Windstein. From the shrimp boats to zydeco to the cocaine tray, Duet and Windstein discuss influences from the Crescent City from childhood until now.

Acid Bath breaks into the New Orleans scene with a maniacal DIY work ethic, but Sammy's discovery of Darkthrone leads to an entirely different path. Check out this latest episode below. More...

Louisiana's blackened thrash perpetrators in Goatwhore are currently readying for their next round of headlining live assaults.

Slated to commence in Houston on September 15th, the band will quash nearly two dozen US cities including recently added dates in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Georgia and Florida as well as five shows supporting death rock/horror punk icons, Samhain!

From there, Goatwhore wil bring canticles of chaos overseas for a European invasion with Dying Fetus, Malevolence, and Fallujah. The lengthy expedition embarks on November 8th in Liege, Belgium and comes to a ceremonial close on December 19th in Hamburg, Germany.

Due to the upcoming birth of his first son, Goatwhore bassist James Harvey will be sitting out both tours. In the interim, the band has enlisted bassist TA from San Antonio blackened death horde, HOD.

Comments Harvey of his absence, "Unfortunately, I will be staying home for the upcoming tour dates with Samhain as well as the European tour with Dying Fetus. This is due to the upcoming birth of my first son by my longtime girlfriend, Lorrena. He is due between the middle and the end of September and I will be staying home to fulfill my paternal duties.

"Obviously we have known about this for months and have planned accordingly - our friend TA from the Texas band, HOD, will be filling in on bass duties for the upcoming US tour. I am bummed that I will not be able to go back out on the road for the rest of the year, but I'm sure everyone understands the gravity of welcoming a new life into the world. I wish the best of luck to the guys on the upcoming runs and hope to see everyone soon." More...

Noisey, the music arm of Vice, is proud to present "NOLA: Life, Death And Heavy Blues From The Bayou," a seven-part series examining the people and the culture that helped foster bands like Down, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Acid Bath, Goatwhore and many others.

From the crawfish-littered tables of the secluded Anselmo compound to a fishing boat with Eyehategod in the swamps, Noisey delves in deep with the NOLA natives on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on September 16th and coming to a conclusion on October 7th.

The New Orleans based blasphemous road warriors in Goatwhore will embark upon another bout of live headlining invasions next month. Set to launch in Houston on September 15th, the band will trounce fourteen cities including five shows supporting death rock/horror punk legends, Samhain.

In November, Goatwhore will take the sadistic anthems overseas for a European incursion with headliners Dying Fetus. The extended trek embarks on November 8th in Liege, Belgium, and will march through nearly four dozen metropolises, coming to a close on December 20th in Leer, Germany.

Goatwhore continues to tour in support of "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless," which was unleashed to the masses in July via Metal Blade Records. Catch the band live on these dates: More...

Following a near month-long run of live debauchery on this year's edition of the Summer Slaughter tour, today New Orleans' metal horde Goatwhore kicks off a short bout of headlining takeovers through Pittsburgh, Newport, and Poughkeepsie before making a special appearance at the Gwar B-Q on August 16th.

The band will take a short break before going roadbound again in September supporting death rock/horror punk icons Samhain on select dates. Additionally, Goatwhore will make it's way to Europe this Fall/Winter with headliners Dying Fetus. Set to commence on November 8th in Liege, Belgium, the epic journey will trample its way through nearly four dozen metropolises, coming to a close on December 20th in Leer, Germany. Additional support will be provided by Malevolence and Fallujah.

Goatwhore is currently touring in support of the "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless" full-length, which debuted at #81 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, toppling the last entry position of #171 with "Blood For The Master" (reviewed here). More...

Summer Slaughter came in to the same venue, Scoot Inn, as last year's stop off at Texas' capital city. The mid-July temperatures reached a scorching 99 degrees, which everyone from fans to bands did their best to stay hydrated (kudos to Scoot Inn for providing water). Keep in mind, this was still a good 5 degrees cooler than last year.

In regards to the lineup, Summer Slaughter 2014 featured artists expected from a death metal-based tour. This year the brutality of Morbid Angel, Dying Fetus, Origin and Decrepit Birth replaced the shredding progression of Animals As Leaders and Periphery.

While death metal was at the forefront of this year's festivities, complex timing and long-winded solos were dispersed throughout the bill. Memories In Broken Glass, this year's battle of the bands winner, concentrated less on guitar solos as they did low tuned, (7 or 8-string guitar) jumping rhythms and samples. I'm sure they were happy to have played a showed promoted by Come And Take It Productions as they played in front of an impressive, jumping early crowd. More...

Goatwhore is currently leveling stages across the U.S. on a Summer-long live tirade that includes a twenty-two date run on this year's Summer Slaughter tour.

The band will also be headed to Europe this Fall/Winter supporting Dying Fetus. Set to commence on November 8th in Liege, Belgium, the epic trek will topple nearly four dozen metropolises, coming to a close on December 20th in Leer, Germany. Additional support will be provided by Malevolence and Fallujah.

Goatwhore has been touring in support of the sadistic wares of the recently unleashed "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless" full-length album. The band will celebrate the release with a meet and greet next week at the world famous Grill 'Em All brick and mortar restaurant in Alhambra, California. Kicking off at 7:00 pm on Wednesday July 16th, fans will have a chance to hang with the band, hear the record in full, as well as purchase a copy if they haven't already. See Goatwhore live: More...

The Louisiana metal miscreants in Goatwhore will celebrate the release of their mammoth "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless" full-length (out today) with a meet and greet next week at the Grill 'Em All restaurant in Alhambra, California.

The event will commence at 7:00 pm on Wednesday July 16th. Fans will get to hang with the band, hear the record in full, as well as purchase a copy if they haven't already.

Additionally, Grill 'Em All will add to the unholy revelry with special "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless" fries - hand cut fries smothered in creole gumbo with chicken, smoked sausage, and shrimp! Come hungry.

On the following day in San Francisco, Goatwhore will kick off a near month-long stretch of live incursions as part of The Summer Slaughter tour alongside Morbid Angel, Dying Fetus, The Faceless, Fallujah and more.

You can also listen to a track off "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless," titled "Schadenfreude" at this location. More...

The New Orleans metal tyrants in Goatwhore are readying to kick off a Summer's worth of U.S. live takeovers.

Set to commence this Saturday, July 5th with a record release party at South Port Hall in Jefferson, Louisiana, the band will level stages on a short run of headlining dates before joining this year's edition of The Summer Slaughter tour on July 17th alongside death metal icons Morbid Angel, Dying Fetus, The Faceless, Fallujah and more!

Additionally, Goatwhore will make a special appearance at this year's Gwar B-Q on August 16th. The band will be touring in support of their forthcoming new full-length, "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless," set to make its final descent upon North America on July 8th, 2014 via Metal Blade Records.

Pre-orders are available at this location and you can hear a track below. The album was captured at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with Erik Rutan at the helm. More...

With the release of "Constricting Rage Of The Merciless" now less than one month away, the New Orleans devious metal merchants in Goatwhore unleash all out hell with "Schadenfreude." Check out the track below, courtesy of Loudwire.com.

Literally meaning the pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others, ninth cut, "Schadenfreude," is at once predatory, epic, misanthropic and sadistic. Notes vocalist Ben Falgoust of the debaucherous hymn: "This song represents the downward spiral of man at his most vile. The seething element of satisfaction when others around fail and fall, then the gratitude that this sickly rejoicing has accomplished in the overall end."

And if you missed it, take in the lurid ungodliness of Goatwhore's "FBS" lyric video right here. More...

New Orleans thrashers Goatwhore released a lyric video for the track "FBS." The song appears on the new release "Constricting Rage of the Merciless," the band's sixth studio release. The album is set to drop via Metal Blade Records on July 4th (G/A/S), July 7th (EU) and July 8th (USA). Pre-orders can be made at this location.